straw or hay?

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midwife mama

midwife mama

In the Brooder
10 Years
Mar 1, 2009
69
0
39
montana
I have been told conflicting advice regarding which to use in the coop (deep litter) and in the run. The feed store folks and others have told me straw, but an old time chicken owner told me straw blows too much and hay stays in place better. We can be kind of windy here in Montana. Your thoughts?
Thanks!
 
Shavings are much easier to clean out- hay and straw tend to compact into a giant sheet that takes FOREVER to break up into manageable pieces. Hay and straw also tend to mold if they get wet. It can get seriously windy here right by the beach and we haven't had any problems with shavings. Good luck!
 
I use straw with some wood chips in the bottom havent had one single problem thus far. Wood chips are not as easy to clean for me as I have Huge Brooder areas and the straw comes out in big clumps. Easier for me to Burn that way.
IMG00061-20100629-1623-1.jpg
 
I got straw last week by mistake, i usually use hay. I didn't have the energy to cycle back to the farm store, and i thought it would be fine. Anyway, straw is everywhere but in the coop now! I prefer hay with wood shavings in the boxes. I will use the straw on the veg patch! Hope this helps
smile.png
 
I also use straw with the deep litter method. So far, I haven't had any issues. But, I'm in a desert (dry) environment, so mold is not a problem. I haven't put anything in the run - it's just plain dirt (sandy) right now.
 
I use pine shaving on the main floor of the coop, but the girls want straw in the nest box. I occasionally throw some straw in the run and then rake it out after a week, it helps in the clean up and makes great compost for the garden
 

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